<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Background</h3><p>Timely referrals of appropriately screened cases are essential for the effective delivery of orthodontic treatment. Dental therapists are intimately involved with the orthodontic screening process in New Zealand, given that they are the primary oral health providers for child and adolescent patients.</p></sec><sec><h3>Objectives</h3><p>(1) To investigate New Zealand dental therapists’ orthodontic screening and referral practices; and, (2) to quantify the perceived need for supplementary orthodontic resources by New Zealand dental therapists.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>An online questionnaire was distributed via email to 659 actively practising dental therapists in New Zealand. Participants answered questions related to their socio-demographic characteristics, orthodontic screening and referral practices, and further orthodontic education.</p></sec><sec><h3>Results</h3><p>All surveyed dental therapists viewed orthodontics as an important treatment priority. Most (64.6%, N = 148) agreed that the orthodontic screening process should be a joint undertaking between general dental practitioners and dental therapists. Most practitioners (63.3%, N = 145) had access to (and used) an orthodontic screening guideline. While almost all dental therapists (98.7%, N = 226) were confident in assessing cases that were suitable for orthodontic referral, 63.8% felt that they could gain from further education, and virtually all (99.6%, N = 228) believed that continuing professional development (CPD) courses in orthodontics would be beneficial. Over three-quarters were in favour of a standardised national guideline for orthodontic screening, while the remainder were either satisfied with their current guidelines (15.3%, N = 35) or believed that such guidelines were unnecessary (7.0%, N = 16). Several patterns were observed by therapist characteristics, particularly related to working sector (private or public) and length of professional experience.</p></sec><sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>There were differences in the orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand. Dental therapists were receptive to the idea of standardised guidelines for orthodontic screening and there was a perceived need for CPD courses in orthodontics.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundTimely referrals of appropriately screened cases are essential for the effective delivery of orthodontic treatment. Dental therapists are intimately involved with the orthodontic screening process in New Zealand, given that they are the primary oral health providers for child and adolescent patients.Objectives(1) To investigate New Zealand dental therapists’ orthodontic screening and referral practices; and, (2) to quantify the perceived need for supplementary orthodontic resources by New Zealand dental therapists.MethodsAn online questionnaire was distributed via email to 659 actively practising dental therapists in New Zealand. Participants answered questions related to their socio-demographic characteristics, orthodontic screening and referral practices, and further orthodontic education.ResultsAll surveyed dental therapists viewed orthodontics as an important treatment priority. Most (64.6%, N = 148) agreed that the orthodontic screening process should be a joint undertaking between general dental practitioners and dental therapists. Most practitioners (63.3%, N = 145) had access to (and used) an orthodontic screening guideline. While almost all dental therapists (98.7%, N = 226) were confident in assessing cases that were suitable for orthodontic referral, 63.8% felt that they could gain from further education, and virtually all (99.6%, N = 228) believed that continuing professional development (CPD) courses in orthodontics would be beneficial. Over three-quarters were in favour of a standardised national guideline for orthodontic screening, while the remainder were either satisfied with their current guidelines (15.3%, N = 35) or believed that such guidelines were unnecessary (7.0%, N = 16). Several patterns were observed by therapist characteristics, particularly related to working sector (private or public) and length of professional experience.ConclusionsThere were differences in the orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand. Dental therapists were receptive to the idea of standardised guidelines for orthodontic screening and there was a perceived need for CPD courses in orthodontics.

Orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand

Australasian Orthodontic Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand"}

BackgroundTimely referrals of appropriately screened cases are essential for the effective delivery of orthodontic treatment. Dental therapists are intimately...

Orthodontic screening and referral practices of dental therapists in New Zealand

Published Online: Jul 30, 2021

Page range: 158 - 169

Received: Jan 01, 2017

Accepted: Apr 01, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/aoj-2020-094

© 2017 Nadarren Lim et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.